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The Functions of Astronomical Affairs Department:
It is specialized in the following

Monitoring the crescents the Hijri months and cosmic phenomena,supervising the works of field committees and sub-committees monitoring of the crescents and coordinating between them in the terms of receiving reports related to investigate the crescent of Ramadan and two Eids.
Following up the operation of astronomical telescopes and observations and super vising its maintenance and performance accuracy.
Preparing astronomical reports regarding Hijri months and cosmic phenomena.
Preparing the annual Hijri calendar by using the astronomical calculations applicable in the Sultanate to see the crescent and prayer times.
Participating in conferences, seminars, lectures and exhibitions related to Astronomy Sciences and its fields.
Following-up the news and information via the World Wide Web in the terms of cosmic phenomena, the participation in journals and newspapers specialized in Astronomy Sciences and its fields, and the global astronomical organizations.
Continuing the contact and cooperating with entities that are related to the same field inside and outside the Sultanate.

This division includes the following departments:
Department of monitoring the crescents
It is specialized in the following:

Monitoring the crescents of Hijri months and informing the specialists about the result of the monitoring in order to make what needs to be done for the beginning of Hijri month from several sites in the Sultanate.
Supervising and following - up the works of field committees to monitor the crescent of Hijri months chaired by His Excellency the Minister.
Coordinating with all sub-committees distributed in the Sultanate's states in the terms of receiving citizens' reports on the investigation of Hijri months (Ramadan, two Eids), and raising the results to Main Committees.
Submitting the periodic reports concerning the results of monitoring Crescentto the Department monthly.
Proposing the formation or adjusting the committees related to monitoring the Crescents.

Department of Astronomical Observatory and Telescopes
It is specialized in the following:

Monitoring all natural phenomena in the universe, such as solar eclipses, lunar eclipses, movement of planets, celestial bodies, and others.
Supervising and the observatory instruments and maintaining their safety.
Operating the telescopes and observatoriesperiodically.
Supervising and following-up the work of observatories and telescopes and their accuracy, and submitting the periodic reports of resultsto the department.
Notifying the concerned authorities of any sudden malfunction of observatories,telescopes and the moving dome.
Coordinating with the competent authorities regarding the work of periodic maintenance of observatories and telescopes and ensuring the accuracy of monitoring.

Department of Islamic calendar and astronomical reports
It is specialized in the following:

Preparing astronomical reports on the moon state and Hijri crescents months.
Preparing astronomical reports on natural phenomena in the universe, such as solar eclipses, lunar eclipses, movement of planets, celestial bodies, and others.
Preparing the annual Hijri calendar by using with astronomical calculations applicable in the Sultanate to see the crescent and prayer times.
Following-up the astronomical news and reports on the cosmic phenomena that occurred in the Sultanate to ensure their validity.
Supervising and following-up on the computational and smart programs of Hijricalendar and prayer times.